crutcher



(No Model.,

J. M. CRUTGHER.

BBD SPRING No. 558,360. Patented Apr. 14, 1896.

/r/VESSES.'

. A TTOHNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JAMES M. CRUTOI-IER, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOROF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT S. CRUTCHER, OF SAME PLACE.

BED-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,360, dated April 14, 1896.

Application iled May 31, 1895. Serial No. 551,226. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMES M. CRUTCHER, of Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented a new and Improved Bed-Spring, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to mattresses, cots, rbc.; and its object is to provide a new and improved bed-spring, which is simple and durable in construction, very elastic, and can be cheaply manufactured.

The invention consists of elastic rings arranged in rows and cross-rods extending between adjacent rows of rings and connected with the latter and with the frame.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as

will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the iigures.

Figure l is a plan view of the improvement. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the improvement, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the improvement with rings of an oblong form.

The frame A, supporting the rings B and cross-rods C, is of the usual construction, and the rings B are made of steel spring-wire and either round or oblong, as indicated in Figs. l and 3. The rings B are arranged in transverse rows, and the rings in each row are connected with each other by links B', which may be integral with the ring or of separate pieces, as desired. The cross-rods C, extending between two adjacent rows of links B, may or may not be attached at their ends to the side rails of the frame A, and each cross-rod C is formed into oppositely-extending links or hooks C to engage the corresponding rings of the adjacent rows. Thus one cross-rod C is connected with two rows of rings, so as to support the latter in the frame A, it being expressly understood that the end rings in each row of rings may or may not be attached to the side rails of the frame. The rows of rings B near the cross-bars of the frame A are connected with a wire E, attached to the crossbars, so as to prevent the rows of rings B and cross-bars from longitudinal displacement.

By making the rings B of steel spring-wire each ring has sufficient elasticity in itself to give according to the weight placed on it or to the pull exerted` thereon by an adjacent ring or cross-rod.

It is evident that the rings, owing to their elasticity, assume different shapes according to the weight or strength of the pull, and when the latter is removed the rings again assume their natural original form.

It will be seen that by the arrangement dej scribed a very strong network is obtained, which, however, is very elastic, so as to give all comfort. At the same time the mattress or cot can be very cheaply manufactured, as the joining of the rings and the latter with the links of the cross-bars is a very silnple operation.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by-Letters Patent- 1. A device of the class described, comprising a frame, transverse rows of connected rings, cross-rods between adjacent rows of rings and attached to the side rails of the frame, each cross-rod being formed with oppositely extending links engaging corresponding rings of the two adjacent rows, and wires attached to the cross-bars of the frame and connected with the outermost row of rings, substantially as shown and described.

2. A bed-spring, the same being composed of a series of rings arranged in rows and each ring being formed of a separate length of wire having one terminal extended and connected with the contiguous link, and rods passed between the several rows ot' rings and having links extending outwardly therefrom and connected to the respective rings, said links being formed in pairs by bending the wire laterally and thence across and back, substantially as described.

JAMES M. CRUTCHER. Vitnesses:

T. E. WILLIAMS, RoBT. S. CRUTCHER. 

